Published: Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 12:45 p.m.

PORT FOURCHON -- A survival capsule from the rig Deepwater Horizon, was towed to shore this morning as Coast Guard planes, helicopters and ships continued searching for 11 missing crew members.

A lawsuit has been filed in connection with the Tuesday night explosion of the drilling rig, which occurred about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, on behalf of one of the missing oil rig workers.

"They located it and hauled it to shore," said Coast Guard Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Lesau. "It is in custody because it is evidence."

Ben-Lesau said the capsule was located near the rig site, and also confirmed that the platform has settled beneath the surface of the water.

The depth of the Gulf at the site is about 5,000 feet, Ben-Lesau said.

No survivors were believed to have ever boarded the capsule, which sustained damage from the blast and may never have been used, Coast Guard officials said.

New Orleans attorney Scott Bickford confirmed this morning that he has filed an action against owners and operators of the Deepwater Horizon, on behalf of the family of 21-year-old Shane Roschtoe of Liberty, Miss. Roschtoe is among the 11 workers missing from the rig.

Around 4:30 a.m., three buses carrying the 94 survivors arrived at a Kenner hotel, as the media was kept at a distance while family and friends were reunited for the first time with loved ones since the massive explosion erupted at the oil platform.

Family and friends did not want to speak on camera, though a few people who traveled from Houston and North Louisiana did speak with the media.

One woman said that her husband described the explosion as something that even a Hollywood movie could not recreate. A father, who also did not want to be identified, said the reunion with his son was wonderful.

Several family from the 11 workers still missing were at the hotel, but declined to speak.

All told, 17 people were injured in the explosion and fire, which ranged from moderate to critical. One worker is being treated at a burn unit in Mobile, Ala, and two workers are still in University Hospital, according officials.

<p>PORT FOURCHON -- A survival capsule from the rig Deepwater Horizon, was towed to shore this morning as Coast Guard planes, helicopters and ships continued searching for 11 missing crew members.</p><p>A lawsuit has been filed in connection with the Tuesday night explosion of the drilling rig, which occurred about 50 miles off the Louisiana coast, on behalf of one of the missing oil rig workers.</p><p>"They located it and hauled it to shore," said Coast Guard Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Lesau. "It is in custody because it is evidence."</p><p>Ben-Lesau said the capsule was located near the rig site, and also confirmed that the platform has settled beneath the surface of the water.</p><p>The depth of the Gulf at the site is about 5,000 feet, Ben-Lesau said. </p><p>No survivors were believed to have ever boarded the capsule, which sustained damage from the blast and may never have been used, Coast Guard officials said. </p><p>New Orleans attorney Scott Bickford confirmed this morning that he has filed an action against owners and operators of the Deepwater Horizon, on behalf of the family of 21-year-old Shane Roschtoe of Liberty, Miss. Roschtoe is among the 11 workers missing from the rig.</p><p>Around 4:30 a.m., three buses carrying the 94 survivors arrived at a Kenner hotel, as the media was kept at a distance while family and friends were reunited for the first time with loved ones since the massive explosion erupted at the oil platform. </p><p>Family and friends did not want to speak on camera, though a few people who traveled from Houston and North Louisiana did speak with the media.</p><p>One woman said that her husband described the explosion as something that even a Hollywood movie could not recreate. A father, who also did not want to be identified, said the reunion with his son was wonderful.</p><p>Several family from the 11 workers still missing were at the hotel, but declined to speak.</p><p>All told, 17 people were injured in the explosion and fire, which ranged from moderate to critical. One worker is being treated at a burn unit in Mobile, Ala, and two workers are still in University Hospital, according officials.</p><p>wwltv controbited to this report</p>